President Obama Declares American Samoa a Major Disaster

President Obama has declared the U.S. territory of American Samoa a major disaster after an undersea earthquake caused a tsunami and massive flooding that has reportedly killed at least 119 people in the South Pacific Samoan Islands and the islands of Tonga.

The president's declaration makes federal funding available to people in American Samoa, which has a population of about 65,000 people.

A woman who works at a hotel in the Samoan capital of Apia said the area shook unlike any previous earthquake.

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"All the houses were shaking," she told ABC News. "Really stronger than other earthquakes that we had before."

Speaking in Honolulu, Sunia said he has received reports of the destruction of several coastal villages. The governor's office said communication with the islands has been difficult, and that several people were still missing.

"There are still some families looking for their loved ones [who] ... left home and [went] ... to work early this morning," Sunia said, adding that several of those who died "were on their way to work in their cars this morning," as the "American Samoa main road is right next to the ocean.

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"The first step," he said, "is trying to get some generators ... water and food" to those affected.

"At this point, our people really need help," he said, as he prepared to head to the islands.

Nynette Sass of Samoa Hotel Association told the BBC that there was total devastation on the islands. "The South Coast, the low lying areas where a lot of people live and operate tourism business is completely wiped out, absolutely nothing standing. Even concrete buildings are all gone."

In a statement released early today, Obama and the first lady said they would "keep those who have lost so much in our thoughts and prayers."

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Tsunami Casualties Likely to Rise

According to the Press Association, Britain's Queen Elizabeth also expressed her condolences, sending messages to both the king of Tonga and the head of the state of the Samoan nation, saying she was "saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life."

Tongan authorities have confirmed at least six dead, according to New Zealand's acting prime minister, Bill English, who spoke to the AP.

Speaking to Australia's Seven Network, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said two Australians had died in the tsunami, including a 6-year-old girl. A British child is also among the missing, and is presumed dead, a Foreign Office spokesperson told ABC News.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi expressed his sadness to reporters onboard his flight from Auckland, New Zealand, to Apia, the Samoan capital. "So much has gone. So many people are gone," he said, "I'm so shocked, so saddened by all the loss."